Specific pressure loss calculations for tailings hydrotransport at the Kachkanar GOK

Abstract

Mining transportation systems are evolving through the introduction of continuous transportation solutions, hydraulic pipeline transport being the most common of them. Considering the high labor and energy intensity of equipment operation, accelerated hydroabrasive wear of pipelines, and elevated metal consumption, respective mining hydrotransport efficiency assessments indicate a significant streamlining potential. Energy intensity of any transportation process depends on the specific head loss Icm and the concentration of the solid phase. Lower pressure losses and higher concentrations reduce the energy requirements for pumping a given volume of solid materials (tailings) and, consequently, improve the resulting hydraulic transport efficiency. The purpose of this work was to establish the change patterns for specific head losses at varying solid phase concentrations in the flow during hydraulic transportation of overflow hydrocycloning products via 800–1000 mm metal pipes with a mass fraction of the solid phase of 17 % (±5 %), as well as to develop recommendations for the design of tailing facilities of the Kachkanar GOK. The experiments conducted have established that specific head losses are directly proportional to concentrations of the solid phase in the tailings slurry. Higher solid phase concentrations and hydrotransport system throughput lead to increased pressure losses. This happens because elevated solid phase concentrations trigger the manifestation of rheological properties of the slurry in the liquid flow, affecting the specific head loss. The research results obtained are reflected in the reconstruction and development design for the plant.